Yeovil Olympiad Athletic's Stuart Richards is appointed to position of dedicated Community Athletics Coach,  tasked with helping young local athletes to realise their ‘full potential'. 

Budding Olympiads look set for a boost this year thanks to the appointment of a dedicated Community Athletics Coach, who has been tasked with helping young local athletes to realise their ‘full potential’.

Stuart Richards - currently a senior team manager for Yeovil Olympiads Athletics Club - started earlier this month as a part time ‘Athletics Community Sports Coach’, and will be encouraging even more youngsters into athletics at a high standard.

The appointment comes as part of a partnership between South Somerset District Council, Somerset Activity Sports Partnership, England Athletics (South West) and Yeovil Olympiads Athletics Club - who hope the introduction will act as a channel for local sports talent to go even further.

As well as identifying talented young athletes and ensuring that that they reach their full potential, Stuart will be coaching within secondary schools across the district to establish strong links between local schools and sports clubs.

Jake Hannis, Senior Sports Development Officer at South Somerset District Council says, “We are very excited by the opportunity that this provides to further develop talent pathways in athletics. It will ensure that we have more talented performers moving on to elite programmes and success in South Somerset, and who knows, perhaps see our local sportspeople progress as far as the Olympics. We look forward to working with Stuart to achieve these objectives”.

The appointment follows the introduction of Alex Pinniger in 2006 as a full time head swimming coach at Yeovil District Swimming Club - which recently celebrated the qualification of one of its swimmers into the ASA National Swimming Championships.

Cllr Sylvia Seal, South Somerset District Council’s Portfolio Holder for Leisure, Culture and Well Being says, “By bringing Stuart in we aim to make a real difference to the performance of our local young sporting talent. With the right amount of commitment - which we have now been able to provide through this opportunity - we can grow and progress athletics in the district, just as we have seen at the swimming club.”

Stuart will be based at Yeovil Athletics Arena. For more information on Sports Development at South Somerset District Council visit
 www.southsomerset.gov.uk .